The novel video draw poker game disclosed utilizes a nine position card matrix in which two through four cards are initially dealt and displayed in one row at the start of game play. Pay lines pass through the nine positions. The player selects and holds ones of the initially dealt cards. After holding cards the non-held cards are replaced and other positions in the card matrix are filled to determine winning hands of cards along the pay lines.
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1. A method for a player to play a game of draw poker that utilizes a matrix of horizontally and vertically oriented positions in which cards are dealt during play of the draw poker game, the matrix having a plurality of columns and plural pay lines pass through one card in each column of the matrix, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) initially randomly dealing cards face up in less than all the positions of one row of positions through the matrix;
(b) letting the player select any of the cards dealt in step (a) to be held;
(c) replacing the card(s) that are not held in step (b);
(d) dealing face up cards in the positions of the one row of positions through the matrix that did not have a card dealt therein in step (a) to complete a hand of cards in that row;
(e) dealing a face up card into matrix positions both above and below the positions of the one row of positions through the matrix into which cards are dealt in step (d); and
(d) determining which pay lines through the matrix have winning combinations of cards along them.
5. A method for a player to play a draw poker game that utilizes a matrix of horizontally and vertically oriented positions in which cards are dealt during play of the draw poker game, the matrix having a plurality of columns and plural pay lines pass through one card in each column of the matrix, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) dealing cards face up in less than all the positions of one row of positions through the matrix;
(b) letting the player select any of the cards dealt in step (a) to be held;
(c) replacing the card(s) that are not held in step (b);
(d) dealing face up cards in the positions of the one row of positions through the matrix that did not have a card dealt therein in step (a) to complete a hand of cards in that row;
(e) dealing a face up card into matrix positions above and/or below certain other positions of the row through the matrix, the number of other positions being less than the number of all the positions of the row through the matrix; and
(d) determining which pay lines through the matrix having winning combinations of cards along them.
4. A method for a player to play a draw poker game that utilizes a matrix of positions in which cards are dealt during play of the draw poker game, the matrix having a plurality of columns and plural pay lines pass through one card in each column of the matrix, the matrix having a row of five positions and having a position above and a position below the first and fifth positions of the row of five positions, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) dealing three cards face up into the second, third and fourth positions of the row of five positions;
(b) letting the player select any of the three cards be held and the non-selected cards will be replaced;
(c) replacing the card(s) that are not held in step (b);
(d) dealing face up cards into the first and fifth positions of the row of five card positions to complete a hand of five cards in that row;
(e) dealing a face up card into the positions above and below the first and fifth positions of the row of five positions; and
(d) determining which pay lines through the columns of the matrix having winning combinations of cards along them.
2. The method for playing a draw poker game in accordance with
3. The method for playing a draw poker game in accordance with
6. The method for playing a draw poker game in accordance with
7. The method for playing a draw poker game in accordance with
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The invention relates to electronic video poker games.
Gaming machines, such as video poker machines and the like, have been the cornerstone of the gaming industry for a number of years. Generally, the popularity of such gaming machines with players is dependent on the perceived likelihood of winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine. Players are most likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting of these machines. Therefore, owner/operators of such video poker machines constantly strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines available because such machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the machine operator. Accordingly, in the competitive gaming machine industry, there is a continuing need for gaming machine manufacturers to produce new types of poker games, or enhancements to existing poker games, which will attract frequent play by enhancing the entertainment value and excitement associated with the games, and by increasing a player's perception that they have a better chance to win when playing a game.
In the prior art there are two types of games. There is the standard 3×5 “five reel slot” machine where all symbols are randomly dealt and displayed and there is no player skill. The other type has a level of player skill. An example of this type of game is Draw Poker in which there is an initial deal of cards from which a player selects cards to be held and non-selected cards are replaced with new cards to improve the value of the player's hand.
The introduction of computerized video poker games permits players to see the representation of dealt hands on a video screen, and the players usually play against a standard payout table retained in the computer's memory. Conventional video draw poker is a single player game in which a player does not play against a dealer or other players, but rather tries to achieve the highest possible paying poker hand. A payout schedule is used to determine the amount awarded to the player for achieving specified winning combinations of cards.
In this standard poker format, the player has the option of holding or replacing 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 of the original dealt five cards. After the deal and draw phases, the resultant hand is evaluated against a posted list of winning combinations called a pay table. The ability to hold or replace cards gives the player some advantage in forming a winning hand of 5 cards. The pay table is designed against this player advantage to produce a game which has a certain game percent. This percent is typically defined as the percentage retained by the house or returned to the player.
The pay table combinations are ordered from highest to lowest and are typically royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair and jacks or better. The highest paying combinations (e.g. royal flush) have the lowest chance of occurring and the most frequently occurring are the lowest paying (e.g. jacks or better). Variations in player advantage such as the introduction of wild cards are balanced by changes in the pay table to derive a certain desired game percent.
One concept that has been successfully employed to enhance the entertainment value of a game is the concept of multiple pay lines that exceed the number of actual horizontal rows of a matrix of cards displayed on a video gaming machine. In such poker machines the pay lines include not only actual horizontal rows of cards being displayed but the pay lines also include cards in positions in more than one horizontal row of the matrix. Thus, some pay lines zig-zag between displayed horizontal rows and the number of pay lines greatly exceed the actual number of horizontal rows of cards being displayed in the matrix.
More particularly, a typical gaming device might have a 3×5 matrix (3 rows by 5 columns). This matrix easily and clearly supports three horizontal pay lines through the three rows of the matrix. To increase the number of pay lines the pay lines zig-zag between the rows of the 3×5 matrix and pass through only one card per column in the matrix. With this technique there are 35 (243) ways of choosing five symbols, one from each column in a 3×5 matrix.
In the simple slot matrix, multiple pay lines have been employed for many years and are well known in the art. In deal and draw poker games various pay lines zig-zag through the matrix that create different hands and motivate different holds per hand (or pay line) which would be time consuming and complicated to perform. One approach is to draw on only one row of the matrix of cards and copy the held card across all the cards in that column thereby holding it in all pay lines since all pay lines intersect that column in one of the cards. This ability to make one set of holds work across multiple pay lines has been very successful.
Over time gaming casino patrons become bored with standard versions of poker games and the casinos are continually looking for new variations of existing video poker games to continually create renewed interest and attract more players to play video poker.
Therefore, there is a need in the prior art to have a new poker game which is similar to conventional poker games in its playing strategy. Such a new game would stimulate renewed interest of experienced players, and the interest of casual players, who will both find the new game exciting.
The need in the prior art for a new video poker game is satisfied by the present invention which is mixing the qualities of a slot matrix with its zig-zag lines and limited draw poker. This invention combines the slots established ability to form multiple pay lines by choosing different cards in some columns of the matrix with the ability to hold and replace cards in the other columns of the matrix. There is a card display matrix that looks like the letter “H”. Cards are dealt, held and replaced in this “H” shaped display matrix and pay lines zig-zag through the matrix. The cross bar of the “H” has a row of five card display positions, and above and below the first and fifth card display position is another card display position. This defines a first and a fifth column. There is no second, third or fourth column. The pay lines commence with any of the three card display positions in the first column, pass through the second, third and fourth positions in the row, and terminate at the three card display positions in the fifth column. Thus, there are a total of nine pay lines that may be selected and played by a player. Each pay line represents a hand of cards that can be selected and played.
Following the placement of bets and selecting the number of pay lines to be played the player commences game play by touching a DEAL button that is displayed on the video display screen. Three cards are dealt face up in only the second, third and fourth card display positions in the middle five row of the “H” shaped display matrix. The player selects 0, 1, 2 or 3 of these three cards to be held by touching them on the video display screen. Held cards are marked as held.
The player then touches a DRAW button displayed on the video display screen. Responsive thereto the game software randomly displays cards face up in the first and fifth column and replaces the non-held ones of the three cards with replacement cards.
The game software then determines if there are winning card combinations on the player selected ones of the nine pay lines. Winning hands along pay lines are displayed to the player and winnings are paid to the player based on a pay table and the number of bets placed on the winnings hands of cards.
Being as the player can only hold and reject cards from amongst the three cards initially dealt, rather than from amongst five cards as in the prior art, the odds in the game change. The result is that the pay table shows higher pays for winning hands. This appeals to a player because it appears they have a chance for higher winnings. In reality the odds balance out due to having only three cards that may be selected to be held or to be replaced.
The invention will be better understood upon reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the drawing in which:
In
When a player commences card play they get pay line PL1 representing a single hand of cards. As they select additional pay lines or hands of cards they will enable, in sequence, pay lines PL2 through PL9.
The player selects the number of pay lines, PL1-PL9, they wish to play by touching SELECT LINES button 13. Touch screen technology senses each touch and displays the number of player selected pay lines within the button. The first time button 13 is touched a number 1 in a circle appears adjacent to the designation PL1 at the left side of the card display positions 11a-11i. At the same time the number “1” is displayed inside button 13. Thereafter, each time that button 13 is touched the number “1” in a circle appears adjacent to the appropriate pay line designation at the left side of the card display positions 11a-11i and the number displayed in button 13 is incremented. In
The player may also select the number of bets to be placed on each of pay lines PL1-PL9 using BET PER HAND button 14. As shown in
After the player has placed bets and selected the pay lines to be played, as described above, they touch on screen DEAL button 15 to commence a round of game play. As long as the player does not change their initial selections for pay lines and bets per hand those selections do not change, but a player may change their selections between each round of game play in a manner well known in the art.
After picking cards to be held the player touches DRAW button 17. Responsive thereto the game software holds the Ace of clubs, and replaces the three of clubs and the nine of spades. The game software also randomly selects cards to be displayed in positions 11a-11c and 11g-11i. This is shown in
The game software then determines the winning hands and displays this information on screen as shown in
In
After picking the cards to be held the player touches DRAW button 17. Responsive thereto the game software holds the six of spades and the eight of spades, and replaces the ten of hearts with a five of clubs. The game software also randomly selects cards to be displayed in positions 11a-11c and 11g-11i. This is shown in
The game software then determines the winning hands and displays this information on screen as shown in
In
After picking the Ace of diamonds to be held the player touches DRAW button 17. Responsive thereto the game software holds the Ace of diamonds, replaces the six of diamonds with a Queen of hearts and replaces the eight of diamonds with a ten of spades as shown in
The game software then determines the winning hands of cards and displays this information on screen as shown in
In
After picking the two cards to be held the player touches DRAW button 17. Responsive thereto the game software holds the six of clubs and the six of diamonds, and replaces the four of clubs with a King of spades as shown in
The game software then determines the winning hands of cards and displays this information on screen as shown in
While the player has winnings in the four rounds of game play described hereinabove, in reality the player will have many rounds of game play in which they have no winnings.
In a first alternative embodiment of the invention cards can be initially dealt into any positions that are less than all the positions in the middle row through the 3×5 matrix. That is, cards may be initially dealt into any two, three or four of the matrix positions 11b, 11d, 11e, 11f or 11h. Any of these initially dealt cards may be held or are not held and replaced as described hereinabove. For one example, as shown in
In a second alternative embodiment of the invention the matrix may be expanded or contracted above and below card positions in the row comprising matrix positions 11b, 11d, 11e, 11f or 11h at other than the first and last positions of the row of positions. That is, the matrix positions designated 11a and 11c, and 11g and 11i for the preferred embodiment of the invention may not be respectively above and below positions 11b and 11h as shown in
While what has been described hereinabove are several examples of Match Poker game play per the preferred embodiment of the invention, and some alternative embodiments of the invention it should be understood that numerous changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the matrix positions in the first and third row need not always be above and below a position in the middle row in which cards are not initially dealt.
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